GRACE
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Marjorie Brown:Anyone lose their shoe in front of the library? I’ll keep it warm until you come and claim it.
Comments:
Henry Connor:Just a friendly reminder to NOT wear random shoes you find on the street.
Marjorie Brown:I do it all the time. It’s good for my immune system.
Kerry Winsor:PLEASE just throw that away! It looks gross!
Jade Clark:Marjorie, out of curiosity, can I see a pic of your feet? For science?
Marjorie Brown:I knew you had one of those fetishes.
Kerry Winsor:Jade has a foot fetish???
Jade Clark:I do NOT. I wanted to see if she had an infection!!!
Mollie Wilson:It’s okay. We all support you.
Jade Clark:I DON’T LIKE FEET! THERE ARE WAY HOTTER BODY PARTS THAN THAT!!!
I wason my fifth sneezing fit when I heard a knock at the door.
“Shit,” I muttered. When I’d told him to come stay, I’d forgotten about all the junk that had piled up in that room. I was rushing to get it all cleaned up, but my allergies were fighting me every step of the way.
I sent up a silent prayer that my nose would keep it together and brushed the dust off my clothes.
“Hey!” I said as I opened the door. Dean towered in the doorway, and he was wearing that damn hat. “You made it. Come in.”
In the light of the house, I could see he was tired. His eyes had been half lidded when I’d seen him earlier, but this was an entirely new level. I’m not even sure how he’d driven here safely.
“Why don’t you sit on the couch? I’m just finishing up the room.”
“Aren’t I supposed to be helping you?” he asked as he took his hat off and ran a hand through his hair.
“No, I—” I was cut off by a sneeze.
Dean’s eyebrow crept up. “Been near dust?”
“Yes, but I’ll be fine. You’re tired and I can handle sneezing.” I made my escape, determined to finish the room so he could get to sleep. I was sure he was far too out of it to fight me.
I let out a sigh when I was alone. I should have kept up on all this while it was happening. Then I wouldn’t have a pile to organize.
“So, this is the junk room?”
I jumped. “You’re supposed to be resting.”
“And you’re pregnant and worked all day, so you should be too. Looks like we’re both breaking rules.”
“But—”
“Why don’t we make this easy and skip to the part where you tell me what you need me to do?”
“I kinda wanna fight more about it.”